Method and apparatus for planning a manufacturing schedule using an adaptive learning process

Abstract

An apparatus and method for a production planning system using a process of adaptive learning is disclosed. A production planning system receives production objects wherein each production object has at least one attribute. In one embodiment, the production objects include information relating to product to be manufactured. After receipt of production objects, multiple preference scores according to the attributes of the production objects are calculated. In one embodiment, each preference score represents desirability of transition from manufacturing a first object to a second object. The system subsequently identifies a suggested production plan which includes a sequence order of two or more objects in response to the preference scores. In one embodiment, the planning preferences are updated or modified by an adaptive learning system in response to adjustments of the suggested production plant by a planner.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[0001]This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 687,032, filed Oct. 16, 2003, now abandoned. This application is related to the following co-pending application, assigned to the assignee of the present invention.[0002]Application Ser. No. 10 / 845,921, filed May 14, 2004, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Planning Manufacturing Schedule Using a Graphical Planning Board,” which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10 / 611,561, filed Jun. 30, 2003, now abandoned.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0003]The present invention relates to apparatus and methods for information processing. More specifically, the present invention relates to a process of planning manufacturing schedules using an adaptive learning process.BACKGROUND[0004]Increasing productivity, lowering manufacturing costs, and improving on-time performance are common concerns for most manufacturing plants and factories. With increasing market pressure for rapid reaction to flu...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]An apparatus and method for a production planner using a process of adaptive learning is disclosed. A production planning system receives production objects wherein each production object has at least one attribute. In one embodiment, the production objects include information relating to the product to be manufactured. After receipt of production objects, multiple preference scores according to the attributes of the production objects are calculated. In one embodiment, each preference score represents desirability of transition from manufacturing a first object to a second object. The system subsequently identifies a suggested production plan which includes a sequence order of two or more objects in response to the preference scores. In one embodiment, the planning preferences are updated or modified by an adaptive learning system in response to adjustments of the suggested production plant by a planner. Accordingly, the system is capable of learning the planning practices through the planning process rather than requiring a programmatic description of planning practices. The learned planning preferences are then used as guidance to create an optimal production plan.

Problems solved by technology

With increasing market pressure for rapid reaction to fluctuating demand, scheduling an efficient manufacturing process, which maximizes the utilization of various resources, and minimizes equipment changeovers and downtimes, has become increasingly challenging.

A problem is that this critical know-how may be absent when the skillful planner is absent.

Another problem is that, with the increasing complexity and faster pace of production planning, the skillful planner has a more difficult time to quickly and consistently apply and / or adjust the planning preferences.

Images